Onion topper



Patented Jan. 1, 1929.

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LLSZS WILLIAM FLAME/I, F MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

ONION TOPPER.

Application filed August 6, 1927.

This invention relates to onion toppers.

Objects of this invention are to provide an onion topping machine whichwill handle the easily damaged onions without injury and which willcutthe tops off close to the body or" the onions in a highly cilicientand rapid manner.

Further objects are to provide an onion topping machine which willoperate upon any size of onions even the very small onions used forsetting out or for seed purposes.

Further objects are to provide an onion topping machine which willpermit the discharge of dirt from the hopper, which is provided with athreat leading from the hopper along which the attendant may pass theonions, and which is provided with a stationary member and with rotarymembers provided with sharp edges which cooperate with the stationaryinen'iber to cut the tops from the onions, and to further provide meansfor adjusting the rotary members wear occurs.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings inwhich:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through the machine;

Figure 2 is a sectional view on the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan view of a portion of the machine. 7 v

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the machine is carriedby a suitable base 1 which is provided with uprights which carry theessential parts of the apparatus. A hopper 2 is provided with a slattedbottom 3 through whichdirt clinging to the onions may fall. This hopperleads to a converging throat a, as shown in Figures 1. and 2. It is tobe noted that the hopper 2 is made up of longitudinal and transverseslats with the longitudinal slats uppermost. The converging throatdischarges between a pair of downwardly converging guiding plates 5, asshown in Figures 1 and 2.

The machine is provided with a stationary I member 6, preferably ofcylindrical. contour,

and with a pair of polygonal rolls 7 which have sharp edges cooperatingwith the stationary member to cut the tops from the onions. The rolls 7are provided with intermeshing gears 8 and one of the rolls is driven bymeans of a pulley 9, so that they will simultaneously rotate towards thestationary member 6 and thus cut the tops of the onions from the body.The rolls are journaled in movable cross heads or ournal Serial No.211,228.

members 10. These members 10 are provided with screws 11 threaded intothe side cars 12, as shown in Figure 2, and provided with knurledadjusting hand wheels 13. The journalled members or cross heads 10 havedovetailed lower port-ions which fit corresponding guides 14 (seeFigures 1 and 3).

The lower portion of the machine is open and is adapted topermit thetree discharge of the onion tops.

It is to be noted that the rolls and the stationary member slantdownwardly from the hopper and that a discharge chute 15 is provided atthe rear end of the machine for the topped onions.

In operation, the onions are dumped into the hopper and any dirtclinging thereto falls through the bottom .of the hopper. The attendantpushes the onions along the converging throat 4 so that they fall ontothe rapidly rotating rolls and the stationary member. The tops are cutoff by theretating rolls and the onions travel down the slantingstationary member and rolls and are d scharged from the spout l5.

From actual tests conducted with this machine, it has been found that itrapidly tops onions 01": any size even the very small onions used forplanting purposes.

It has been found further that the onions are not damaged in any mannerby this machine.

Although the invention has been described in considerable detail suchdescription is intended as illustrative rather than limiting as the.invention may be variously embodied and as the scope of such inventionis to be determined as claimed.

I claim:

An onion topping-machine comprising a stationary cylinder and apolygonal roll located on each side of said stationary cylinder, saidrolls and said cylinder slanting downwardly towards one end, and meansfor rotatin said rolls with their'upper' surfaces travelling towardssaid cylinder,

whereby the onions will be topped by the r I cooperation of the edges ofthe polygonal rolls and the cylinder and will travel downwardiy and,pass from the lower ends of said rolls and cylinder.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand atMilwaukee. in the county of Milwaukee and State of l/Visconsin.

WILLIAM FLAMM.

